Library Newsletter - February 2008

Fun, Informative, Delicious!  Leap Day Bake Off

Leap Day, Feb. 29th, only comes once every four years. What better way to celebrate than with a bake off!

How does it work? It's simple... If you like to eat, show up for the tasting party on Friday, Feb. 29th at 2 pm. Everyone's invited!

If you like to bake, bring your best. Email your recipe to awheeler@dnr.state.md.us and I'll make copies to hand out with your entry. Drop off entries in the library by 1:30 pm on Feb. 29th. Is your spouse a baker? Entries baked by spouses or significant others are accepted!

Everyone will get to vote for their favorites, as well as socialize with your DNR colleagues, meet your librarian, and learn about library services. Don't miss it!

Get the Books and Articles You Need

Whether it's user guides for Microsoft Excel or Access, identification keys for insects, or the most current research in your field, the DNR Library is your place to get what you need. I can get practically any books, journal articles, and thesis through interlibrary loan. There's no charge, and no limit on your requests, so don't hesitate to make use of this fantastic service! You can email specific book or article requests to awheeler@dnr.state.md.us and I'll find the best way to borrow or obtain a copy, and deliver it to your desk. I can also help find books and articles, just email me with what you're looking for. Field staff can make requests, too! There's no need to visit the library, and I'll mail materials to you.

The library also has a collection of online journals and an online catalog.  All DNR employees are welcome to check out books.

Spotlight on Chesapeake-Related Research

Kuhlmann, Mark L. and Peter D. Hazelton. 2007. Invasion of the Upper Susquehanna River Watershed by Rusty Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus). Northeast Naturalist 14(4):507-518.

Abstract: Orconectes rusticus (rusty crayfish) has spread from its original range throughout much of northeastern North America. Invading rusty crayfish can completely replace native crayfish and impact other parts of the community through changes in consumption, disturbance, and other effects. Our main objectives were to document rusty crayfish distribution in streams of the upper Susquehanna River watershed, NY, and to determine the extent of changes in crayfish community composition since the last major survey. We sampled streams during 1999–2005 to describe the current distribution of crayfish species and to document short-term temporal changes. To determine long-term changes in species composition and distribution, we compared our data to museum specimen collection records. We found significant changes in the crayfish community; our surveys found 2 species not previously reported from the upper Susquehanna River watershed and failed to find 2 species previously reported. We also found that rusty crayfish are widespread in the watershed and continues to expand, while the ranges of native congeners are retracting.

This article is available at the DNR Library.

Watts, Bryan D. , Glenn D. Therres, and Mitchell A. Byrd. 2008. Recovery of the Chesapeake Bay Bald Eagle Nesting Population. Journal of Wildlife Management 72(1): 152-158.

Abstract: We conducted annual aerial surveys throughout the tidal reach of the Chesapeake Bay, USA, between 1977 and 2001 to estimate population size and reproductive performance for bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). The population increased exponentially from 73 to 601 pairs with an average doubling time of 8.2 years. Annual population increase was highly variable and exhibited no indication of any systematic decline. A total of 7,590 chicks were produced from 5,685 breeding attempts during this period. The population has exhibited tremendous forward momentum such that >50% of young produced over the 25-year period were produced in the last 6 years. Rapid population growth may reflect the combined benefits of eliminating persistent biocides and active territory management. Reproductive rate along with associated success rate and average brood size increased throughout the study period. Average reproductive rate (chicks/breeding attempt) increased from 0.82 during the first 5 years of the survey to 1.50 during the last 5 years. Average success rate increased from 54.4% to >80.0% during the same time periods. The overall population will likely reach saturation within the next decade. The availability of undeveloped waterfront property has become the dominant limiting factor for bald eagles in the Chesapeake Bay. Maintaining the eagle population in the face of a rapidly expanding human population will continue to be the greatest challenge faced by wildlife biologists.

This article is available at the DNR Library, or online.

Woltemade, Christopher J. and Jinnieth Woodward. 2008. Nitrate Removal in a Restored Spring-Fed Wetland, Pennsylvania, USA. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 44 (1):222–234.

ABSTRACT: In 2001, the 1.04-ha Hornbaker wetland in south-central Pennsylvania was restored by blocking an artificial drainage ditch to increase water storage and hydraulic retention time (HRT). A primary goal was to diminish downstream delivery of nitrate that enters the wetland from a limestone spring, its main source of inflow. Wetland inflow and outflow were monitored weekly for two years to assess nitrate flux, water temperature, pH, and specific conductivity. In Year 2, spring discharge was measured weekly to allow calculation of nitrate loads and hydraulic retention time. Surface runoff was confirmed to be a small fraction of wetland inflows via rainfall-runoff modeling with TR-55. The full dataset (n = 102) was screened to remove 13 weeks in which spring discharge constituted < 85% of total inflows because of high precipitation and surface runoff. Over two years (n = 89), mean nitrate-nitrogen concentrations were 7.89 mg/l in inflow and 3.68 mg/l in outflow, with a mean nitrate removal of 4.19 mg/l. During Year 2 (n = 47), for which nitrate load data were available, the wetland removed an average of 2.32 kg N/day, 65% of the load. Nitrate removal was significantly correlated with HRT, water temperature, and the concentration of nitrate in inflow and was significantly greater during the growing season (5.36 mg/l, 64%) than during the non-growing season (3.23 mg/l, 43%). This study indicates that hydrologic restoration of formerly drained wetlands can provide substantial water quality benefits and that the hydrologic characteristics of spring-fed wetlands, in particular, support effective nitrogen removal.

This article is available at the DNR Library, or online.

Explore the library's entire collection of online journals.

Best of the Web

Training Opportunities for DNR Employees

AFWA’s Management Assistance Team
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agency’s Management Assistance Team offers reasonably-priced online courses for fish and wildlife agency professionals, including Creative and Critical Thinking, Going from Good to Great, Secrets of Agency Assessment and Development, Power, Visionary Leadership, and The Adaptive Leader. Registration for Spring 2008 courses is now open!

EPA Watershed Academy
The Watershed Academy in EPA's Office of Water provides free self-paces training modules, a Watershed Management Training Certificate program, monthly webcast seminars and online archive of past seminars, and live training courses. Register now for the upcoming webcast "Wastewater Utilities Using Sustainable Watershed Approaches" on Feb. 20.

Governors’ Grants Office training program
The Governor's Grants Office offers a number of training programs for State agency staff, local government staff, and non-profit organizations. Topics include finding and winning grants and successfully managing grants. Email MDgrantsoffice@gov.state.md.us for information about upcoming programs.

Legal Research Institute 2008
Date: March 19, 2008. Time: 9 am to 1 pm. Location: University of Baltimore School of Law. Cost: $70. This half-day Legal Research Institute is designed for professional and support staff in both law and public libraries, legal assistants, self-represented litigants, and others with a need to understand and use sources of law in the United States and Maryland legal systems. Sponsored by the Law Library Association of Maryland and the University of Baltimore Law Library. For a brochure and more information, please visit the DNR library. To register for the institute, please contact Catherine McGuire at Catherine.mcguire@mdcourts.gov
 

To be added to the library's email distribution list, please email me at awheeler@dnr.state.md.us
 

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Ann Wheeler
Phone: 410-260-8830
Fax: 410-260-8951
Email: awheeler@dnr.state.md.us